Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma believes the talks over the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) can wait, the priority should be the welfare of the countrymen amid the COVID-19 threat, which has already affected the tournament, forcing a delay on its start to until at least April 15. 

In an Instagram chat with India teammate, and Royal Challengers Bangalore leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, Rohit made his views clear on the matter. 

Read Also: BCCI to see how COVID-19 pandemic situation evolves before taking decision on IPL 13

"We should first think about the country," Rohit told Chahal. "The situation needs to get better first then we can talk about the IPL. Let life get back to normal first."

India is under a 21-day lockdown, with the nation recording 700 COVID-19 positive cases, including 14 deaths, till Thursday (March 26) evening.

"I haven't seen Bombay like this before," Rohit further told Chahal as he showed the spinner the empty streets of the city from his balcony. 

"As cricketers, we don't get time with family. So much of tours and cricket is there. This is a time to spend with them and loads of it," he added, with daughter Samaira in his arms and wife Ritika Sajdeh in tow.

Rohit picked up a leg injury while playing the T20I series in New Zealand in February and subsequently missed the ODIs and the Tests on the tour. He was then rested for the three-match ODI series in March against South Africa, which was indefinitely postponed in wake of the deadly outbreak. 

Meanwhile, during the chat, Chahal laid down his daily routine these days

"I play games. In the afternoons I spend time with family. I rest and it's just these things now," he said. 

On his bowling in recent times, the veteran limited-overs spinner said he really wanted to deliver a few impactful spells against the Proteas. 

"I bowled decent (in New Zealand) but I am missing a winning spell for long. I am getting 2-3 wickets but I want a winning spell, and that is missing," he said. 

(Inputs from IANS)